Ch. 56 - Advancing Into True Meridian Realm

The night passed in silence. Though they had stayed busy all night, the group had found nothing.

As the sky began to brighten, the disciples of Divine Sun Sacred Ground returned to the main hall.

Wang Tao was the first to speak: “Steward Hu, did anything happen last night?”

“No, no,” Hu Yuanwai quickly shook his head. “I just did a roll call, everyone’s safe and sound.”

“Looks like that thing is nothing special. Just some trickster pretending to be a ghost,” Wang Tao sighed in relief.

From the side, Xu Zimo stood up from his recliner, stretched lazily, and looked at Wang Tao.

“Young man, your brow is dark… Might be a sign of bloodshed ahead.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Wang Tao asked, frowning.

Xu Zimo didn’t answer. He just smiled faintly and walked outside the hall, starting his morning exercises under the rising sun.

“Let’s not argue,” Hu Yuanwai quickly intervened. “I’ve had breakfast prepared. You’ve all worked hard through the night, come and eat. I still hope you’ll stay a few more days and help me catch the killer.”

Wang Tao glanced at Xu Zimo and muttered, “I’m going to the toilet,” before walking off alone.

During breakfast, everyone gathered, except Wang Tao, who didn’t show up even after a long wait.

Little Gui joked, “Did your Senior Brother Wang slipped into the toilet or what?”

“I’ll go check on him,” said Xing Lin, frowning. He suppressed his irritation and left the dining hall.

Soon after, a maid came running in, trembling and terrified.

“Master… Young Master Wang Tao… is dead!”

“What?!” Hu Yuanwai dropped his wine cup, face drained of color. He stood up in shock and rushed outside, firing off questions at the maid.

Wang Tao was dead, but not in the latrine. He had died in his room.

That morning, a maid had passed by and noticed a strong stench of blood. Curious, she had opened the door, what she saw made her stomach turn.

Wang Tao was lying on his bed, his head severed, blood soaking the sheets.

His eyes were closed, and his expression oddly peaceful, as if someone had cut off his head while he slept, and he hadn’t even noticed.

“Didn’t he just say he was going to the bathroom? He was fine just moments ago! How…?”

Hu Yuanwai stammered, unable to get the words out.

Just then, Xing Lin returned, he had checked the latrine and found no trace of Wang Tao.

Everyone stared in stunned silence at the horrific scene.

Xing Lin walked over to inspect the body. He examined the blood coagulation and the temperature of the flesh around the wound.

After a long pause, he finally said, “He’s been dead for at least six hours.”

“What nonsense is that? He was with us all night! We even talked this morning!” Xiao Yu said, face pale with disbelief.

“This mission may be beyond our capabilities,” Xing Lin said grimly, turning to Hu Yuanwai. “I’m sorry, Steward Hu. We’re giving up this mission. Once I’m back, I’ll submit it for reassessment. Maybe a more senior disciple will come later.”

Though anxious, Hu Yuanwai knew he couldn’t force them to stay.

That very morning, Xing Lin and Xiao Yu left the town and returned to Divine Sun Sacred Ground, skipping breakfast entirely.

“Master Xu, are you and your companions leaving too?” Hu Yuanwai asked Xu Zimo and his group.

“Steward Hu, how about this, would you like to watch a good show?” Xu Zimo smiled.

“A… a good show?” Hu Yuanwai asked nervously.

Xu Zimo then gathered Hu Yuanwai, Little Gui, and Lin Ruhu and whispered a plan to them.

Seeing their odd expressions, Xu Zimo added, “If you’re too scared, you don’t have to do it. I can handle it alone.”

“What’s there to be afraid of? Look at what my household has become,” Hu Yuanwai muttered. After some hesitation, he made up his mind.

That day, several more of the Hu estate’s servants resigned. No amount of money could make them stay after Wang Tao’s death, it was the last straw.

After breakfast, Xu Zimo pulled out a reclining chair and lay back, basking in the sun.

He was thinking about his breakthrough to the True Meridian Realm. He had been at the peak of the Meridian Forging Realm for a while now.

Then, slowly, he activated the power within the pearl.

The third Meridian Gate, Dawnwind, was located in the chest.

Thanks to the dual boost of God Meridian energy from the bead and the Ten Meridian Fruit, the gate burst open with ease.

It was like breaking through a decaying dam, no resistance at all.

With a loud boom, spiritforce surged through Xu Zimo’s body like a raging river breaking its banks.

“From heaven descends the Yellow River’s flow, rushing endlessly into the sea below.”

The rich spiritforce washed through him, reinforcing his organs, muscles, and bones.

Springwheel, Deepbone, Dawnwind, the first three gates formed a minor cycle of energy. The twelve gates formed a major cycle, divided into four minor cycles of three.

Xu Zimo could clearly feel his spiritforce several times stronger than before. Once he unlocked the fourth gate, Vastsea, he’d even gain the ability to fly.

In the center courtyard of the Hu estate, various low-grade spirit herbs were growing, brightly colored flowers blooming among the beds.

Butterflies fluttered through the blossoms, and Hu Yuanwai’s four-year-old daughter ran joyfully among them, trying to catch one.

“Big Brother Xu, look! I caught another butterfly!” the girl, Hu Yingying, ran up and bragged proudly.

“Good girl,” Xu Zimo bent down and gently pinched her plump little cheeks.

He almost squished her face into a different shape. Tearful, Hu Yingying rubbed her reddened cheeks and ran off to her father to complain.

Behind her, Xu Zimo burst into hearty laughter.

The day passed in peace, but as night fell once more, a tense gloom returned to the Hu residence.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, and darkness crept in, everyone in the estate felt a chill settle over their hearts.

Inside the hall, Hu Yuanwai clutched a wine cup, drinking one glass after another, trying to muster courage.

“Brother Xu… are you sure about this?” Little Gui asked nervously.

“Would I bother if I weren’t sure?” Xu Zimo replied with a calm smile.

“I believe in Brother Zimo,” Lin Ruhu said firmly.

They all looked up at the pitch-black sky.

And then, once again, the sorrowful, haunting song of the ghost woman echoed across the estate.

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